Welcome to the Hog Blog, a blog chronicling minor-league baseball in the Lehigh Valley. Tom Housenick, The Morning Call's IronPigs beat writer, has been at The Morning Call since 2008. In a previous lifetime, he was at Lackawanna County Stadium in Moosic talking with future Phillies Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard, among many others.
He’ll now be spending his summers in search of who the Phillies are hoping to be the next Chase Utley and Cole Hamels plus any outfielder who catch and hit. What he really hopes to find are the next Mariano Rivera, Todd Helton and Jim Thome --- great human beings who happened to be great at this sport.
He spent the last five years covering Colonial League football, college basketball and high school track & field.

The organization that has given fans urinal games, pig festivals and funeral giveaways is up to something again.

But the IronPigs aren't tipping their hand over what they're calling a "major announcement" Monday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park.

The team, which has led the minor leagues in attendance three of the past four years, has piqued the public's curiosity with a multi-media marketing campaign that features the phrases "#smellthechange" and "coming 2.24.14" super-imposed over strips of sizzling bacon.

So far, team officials haven't provided even a glimmer of a hint about the announcement. When one was asked if the news will belong in the sports or news section of The Morning Call, he merely said, 'probably both."

Even industry heavyweight Baseball America couldn't get any info out of general manager Kurt Landes.

"I've received a lot of emails saying, 'Come on, you can tell me.' ... And I haven't," Landes told the publication.

Landes told BA that "For us, it's a big announcement," adding that "We're no different than any minor league team. We're shaking the trees beforehand and are certainly getting some buzz in the Lehigh Valley and I think even in industry circles."

Landes has become know for his lavish productions about relatively routine events dating back to using a local pig farm as a backdrop for the unveiling of the team's primary mascot, FeRROUS (originally named Pork Chop, as some might remember before a small backlash led to a quick name change).

Then there were the pig races (yes, with real pigs, not the costumed variety) he staged in the ballroom of the downtown Crown Plaza Hotel to highlight the unveiling of the team's logo ii March of 2007.

He staged a political campaign rally to announce a routine renewal of the team's player development affiliation with the Phillies, turned the outfield of Coca-Cola Park into a cornfield a la Field of Dreams to announce the coming of the Triple-A All-Star game, and crafted a presentatino around a super-secret spy-vs-spy theme to reveal that the park would host last year's Triple-A championship game.

So with that in mind, the theme of Monday's announcement could range from the unbelievable (a retractable dome for Coca-Cola Park, perhaps?) to the routine (new menu items at the park).

Whatever it is, a mere press release won't do for Landes and the IronPigs. So the curtain goes up at 1 p.m. Monday on the latest from the Landes & IronPigs Theatrical Company.

The organization that has given fans urinal games, pig festivals and funeral giveaways is up to something again.

But the IronPigs aren't tipping their hand over what they're calling a "major announcement" Monday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park.

The team, which has led the minor leagues in attendance three of the past four years, has piqued the public's curiosity with a multi-media marketing campaign that features the phrases "#smellthechange" and "coming 2.24.14" super-imposed over strips of sizzling bacon.

So far, team officials haven't provided even a glimmer of a hint about the announcement. When one was asked if the news will belong in the sports or news section of The Morning Call, he merely said, 'probably both."

Even industry heavyweight Baseball America couldn't get any info out of general manager Kurt Landes.

"I've received a lot of emails saying, 'Come on, you can tell me.' ... And I haven't," Landes told the publication.

Landes told BA that "For us, it's a big announcement," adding that "We're no different than any minor league team. We're shaking the trees beforehand and are certainly getting some buzz in the Lehigh Valley and I think even in industry circles."

Landes has become know for his lavish productions about relatively routine events dating back to using a local pig farm as a backdrop for the unveiling of the team's primary mascot, FeRROUS (originally named Pork Chop, as some might remember before a small backlash led to a quick name change).

Then there were the pig races (yes, with real pigs, not the costumed variety) he staged in the ballroom of the downtown Crown Plaza Hotel to highlight the unveiling of the team's logo ii March of 2007.

He staged a political campaign rally to announce a routine renewal of the team's player development affiliation with the Phillies, turned the outfield of Coca-Cola Park into a cornfield a la Field of Dreams to announce the coming of the Triple-A All-Star game, and crafted a presentatino around a super-secret spy-vs-spy theme to reveal that the park would host last year's Triple-A championship game.

So with that in mind, the theme of Monday's announcement could range from the unbelievable (a retractable dome for Coca-Cola Park, perhaps?) to the routine (new menu items at the park).

Whatever it is, a mere press release won't do for Landes and the IronPigs. So the curtain goes up at 1 p.m. Monday on the latest from the Landes & IronPigs Theatrical Company.

In 2010, even though he had climbed to within one step of his ultimate goal, Joe Savery appeared to be light-years away from wearing a major league uniform.

A year later, Savery was could've walked from Allentown to Philadelphia without his feet ever touching the ground after finding out the Phillies had made him one of their September call-ups.

The former first-round pick, who played parts of five seasons for the IronPigs, became an ex-Phillie Monday when Oakland claimed the left-hander on waivers after he had been designated for assignment Sunday to make room for A.J. Burnett.

Seeing the joy on Savery's face on that Friday night in September, 2011, when he emerged from manager Ryne Sandberg's office after being told he was heading to Philadelphia is one of the more pleasant moments I've spent at Coca-Cola Park.

"To say this is a surprise and unbelievable and impossible to put into words is an understatement," an overwhelmed Savery, who spent parts of five seasons with the IronPigs, said that night.

"I saw tears in his eyes as I told himi he was going up to the Philadelphia Phillies," Sandberg added.

Savery's previous season was so miserable -- he was 1-12 overall, 1-10 with a 5.01 ERA as a starter (not exactly what one expects from a first-round pick) -- that he was seriously thinking about life after baseball, perhaps beginning as early as that winter.

"I had made my plans to be back in school this fall, and I really started to think about what life would be like after baseball," Savery said a year later of his thoughts after the 2010 season. "I knew where I wasn't going to cut it."

Instead, he "talked" the Phillies into letting him come to camp in 2011 as a hitter, something he always enjoyed doing and is pretty good at as well. The Phillies agreed, primarily to prevent someone they had invested $1.3 million in just three years earlier from walking away -- but according to former farm director Chuck Lamar they never vied the move as permanent.

By mid-season, after cooling down from a torrid hitting start at Clearwater, was back on the mound as a lefty reliever at Reading -- and he was very effective at it, much more effecitve than he was as a starter.

It was that role that eventually led him to the big leagues.

Since his transition to the bullpen, his minor league numbers -- mostly at Triple-A -- are a solid 2.85 ERA, 67 hits allowed, 24 walks and 98 strikeouts in 85 innings. His major league numbers are respectable -- a 4.15 ERA in 41 games and less than a hit an inning (42 in 47.2), although his walks (19) could be down and his strikeouts (32) a bit better.

Still, those types of numbers keep guys in major league uniforms, especially in the American League.

Savery is only 28, and as they say, lefties pretty much have a job as long as their arm is still attached (see Jamie Moyer's career for proof). So maybe this is the change of scenery that propells him into a lengthy big-league career.

I hope so. He's been one of the many guys to pass through the IronPigs clubhouse.

In 2010, even though he had climbed to within one step of his ultimate goal, Joe Savery appeared to be light-years away from wearing a major league uniform.

A year later, Savery was could've walked from Allentown to Philadelphia without his feet ever touching the ground after finding out the Phillies had made him one of their September call-ups.

The former first-round pick, who played parts of five seasons for the IronPigs, became an ex-Phillie Monday when Oakland claimed the left-hander on waivers after he had been designated for assignment Sunday to make room for A.J. Burnett.

Seeing the joy on Savery's face on that Friday night in September, 2011, when he emerged from manager Ryne Sandberg's office after being told he was heading to Philadelphia is one of the more pleasant moments I've spent at Coca-Cola Park.

"To say this is a surprise and unbelievable and impossible to put into words is an understatement," an overwhelmed Savery, who spent parts of five seasons with the IronPigs, said that night.

"I saw tears in his eyes as I told himi he was going up to the Philadelphia Phillies," Sandberg added.

Savery's previous season was so miserable -- he was 1-12 overall, 1-10 with a 5.01 ERA as a starter (not exactly what one expects from a first-round pick) -- that he was seriously thinking about life after baseball, perhaps beginning as early as that winter.

"I had made my plans to be back in school this fall, and I really started to think about what life would be like after baseball," Savery said a year later of his thoughts after the 2010 season. "I knew where I wasn't going to cut it."

Instead, he "talked" the Phillies into letting him come to camp in 2011 as a hitter, something he always enjoyed doing and is pretty good at as well. The Phillies agreed, primarily to prevent someone they had invested $1.3 million in just three years earlier from walking away -- but according to former farm director Chuck Lamar they never vied the move as permanent.

By mid-season, after cooling down from a torrid hitting start at Clearwater, was back on the mound as a lefty reliever at Reading -- and he was very effective at it, much more effecitve than he was as a starter.

It was that role that eventually led him to the big leagues.

Since his transition to the bullpen, his minor league numbers -- mostly at Triple-A -- are a solid 2.85 ERA, 67 hits allowed, 24 walks and 98 strikeouts in 85 innings. His major league numbers are respectable -- a 4.15 ERA in 41 games and less than a hit an inning (42 in 47.2), although his walks (19) could be down and his strikeouts (32) a bit better.

Still, those types of numbers keep guys in major league uniforms, especially in the American League.

Savery is only 28, and as they say, lefties pretty much have a job as long as their arm is still attached (see Jamie Moyer's career for proof). So maybe this is the change of scenery that propells him into a lengthy big-league career.

I hope so. He's been one of the many guys to pass through the IronPigs clubhouse.

Left handed reliever Joe Savery has been designated for assignment after the Phillies officially announced the signing of A.J. Burnett Sunday morning in Clearwater.

Any major league team can claim Savery off waivers. If he clears waivers, the Phillies have 10 days to assign him to trade him, assign him to the minors or release him.

Savery, 28, has been up and down between the IronPigs and the Phillies for the pasttwo seasons since being a September call-up at the end of the 2011 season. He was 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings (18 games) last year for the Phillies and 3-1 with a 3.80 ERA and two saves in 23.2 innings (20 games) with the Iron Pigs.

Overall, the former first-round pick, who moved to the bullpen in 2011 after struggling as a starter in the minors, has appeared in 41 games for the Phillies, positng a 4.15 ERA with a 3-2 record.

Burnett, who was 10-11 with a 3.30 ERA in 30 starts a year ago for the Pirates, agreed toa one-year, $16-million contract last week with a mutual option for next season, performance and award bonuses and a limited no-trade decision.

Original reports said Burnett had received a full no-trade clause.

Burnett will wear Roy Halladay's No. 34.

Burnett led the National League in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (9.85), striking out 209 batters in 191.0 innings, finished fifth in total strikeouts and held opposing hitters to the ninth-lowest batting average (.231) among NL starters. He led the Pirates pitching staff in innings pitched and strikeouts and tied for the team lead in starts.

“To be able to add a pitcher of A.J.’s caliber at this time of year says a lot about our ownership group’s commitment to winning,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a release announcng the signing. “A.J. will complement Cole (Hamels) and Cliff (Lee) in our rotation and adds another experienced arm to our team.”

In 2013, Burnett posted double-digits in wins for the ninth straight year and made at least 30 starts for the sixth consecutive season. He has surpassed the 200-inning mark five times in his career and has had at least 200 strikeouts in three different seasons. On May 12, 2001, he pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres.

Originally selected by the New York Mets in the eighth round of the 1995 draft, Burnett has a career record of 147-132 with 23 complete games, 10 shutouts and a 3.99 ERA in 15 seasons for the Florida Marlins (1999-2005), Toronto Blue Jays (2006-08), New York Yankees (2009-11) and Pirates (2012-13). Among active pitchers, he ranks second in strikeouts (2,180), behind only the Yankees’ CC Sabathia (2,389), and sixth in innings pitched (2,353.2).

Left handed reliever Joe Savery has been designated for assignment after the Phillies officially announced the signing of A.J. Burnett Sunday morning in Clearwater.

Any major league team can claim Savery off waivers. If he clears waivers, the Phillies have 10 days to assign him to trade him, assign him to the minors or release him.

Savery, 28, has been up and down between the IronPigs and the Phillies for the pasttwo seasons since being a September call-up at the end of the 2011 season. He was 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings (18 games) last year for the Phillies and 3-1 with a 3.80 ERA and two saves in 23.2 innings (20 games) with the Iron Pigs.

Overall, the former first-round pick, who moved to the bullpen in 2011 after struggling as a starter in the minors, has appeared in 41 games for the Phillies, positng a 4.15 ERA with a 3-2 record.

Burnett, who was 10-11 with a 3.30 ERA in 30 starts a year ago for the Pirates, agreed toa one-year, $16-million contract last week with a mutual option for next season, performance and award bonuses and a limited no-trade decision.

Original reports said Burnett had received a full no-trade clause.

Burnett will wear Roy Halladay's No. 34.

Burnett led the National League in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (9.85), striking out 209 batters in 191.0 innings, finished fifth in total strikeouts and held opposing hitters to the ninth-lowest batting average (.231) among NL starters. He led the Pirates pitching staff in innings pitched and strikeouts and tied for the team lead in starts.

“To be able to add a pitcher of A.J.’s caliber at this time of year says a lot about our ownership group’s commitment to winning,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a release announcng the signing. “A.J. will complement Cole (Hamels) and Cliff (Lee) in our rotation and adds another experienced arm to our team.”

In 2013, Burnett posted double-digits in wins for the ninth straight year and made at least 30 starts for the sixth consecutive season. He has surpassed the 200-inning mark five times in his career and has had at least 200 strikeouts in three different seasons. On May 12, 2001, he pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres.

Originally selected by the New York Mets in the eighth round of the 1995 draft, Burnett has a career record of 147-132 with 23 complete games, 10 shutouts and a 3.99 ERA in 15 seasons for the Florida Marlins (1999-2005), Toronto Blue Jays (2006-08), New York Yankees (2009-11) and Pirates (2012-13). Among active pitchers, he ranks second in strikeouts (2,180), behind only the Yankees’ CC Sabathia (2,389), and sixth in innings pitched (2,353.2).

Wednesday's signing of A.J. Burnett to a one-year contract likely means either Jonathan Pettibone or Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez -- or both -- could be heading to Coca-Cola Park at the end of training camp.

Burnett probably slides into the Phillies rotation at No. 2, between Cole Hamels (assuming his latest situation is nothing more than the bicep tendonitis he and the team says it is) and Cliff Lee to break up the two left-handers at the top of the rotation.

That leave four prime candidates -- Kyle Kendrick, Roberto Hernandez, Pettibone and Gonzalez -- for the other two spots in the rotation.

Wednesday's signing of A.J. Burnett to a one-year contract likely means either Jonathan Pettibone or Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez -- or both -- could be heading to Coca-Cola Park at the end of training camp.

Burnett probably slides into the Phillies rotation at No. 2, between Cole Hamels (assuming his latest situation is nothing more than the bicep tendonitis he and the team says it is) and Cliff Lee to break up the two left-handers at the top of the rotation.

That leave four prime candidates -- Kyle Kendrick, Roberto Hernandez, Pettibone and Gonzalez -- for the other two spots in the rotation.

If you had tickets to Reading's King of Baseballtown Winter Banquet that was cancelled by (what else?) snow last month, you're invited to the Meet the Fightins Banquet on Monday, March 31, at the Reading Crowne Plaza.

Ticket-holders from the original King of Baseballtown banquet will be admitted with their original ticket. Additional tickets cost $65 for adults and $25 for kids and are available on-line at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-2255 (BALL), or by visiting the FirstEnergy Stadium ticket office during business hours.

The 2014 King of Baseballtown, Charlie Flannery, will also be crowned at the event. The long-time coach of the Gregg Post American League team and banquet chairman of the Reading Hot Stovers will be be the 12th king crowned by Baseballtown Charities.

Ticketholders from the postponed January event will be admitted with their original ticket.

The banquet will feature the introduction of the entire 2014 Fightins Opening Night roster, including manager Dusty Wathan and his coaching staff. Wathan, pitching coach David Lundquist, and hitting coach Rob Ducey will take part of a question-and-answer session during the dinner.

The night also includes an autograph session with the entire team and staff as well as a raffle and silent auction of various sports collectibles and memorabilia.

Doors to the banquet open at 5:30 p.m. and the banquiet begins an hour later.

Proceeds from the event benefit Baseballtown Charities, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded to keep baseball alive in Reading through programs that honor the city's rich baseball history and secure its future by giving more kids the opportunity to play and learn from the game's life lessons.

Since being founded in 2006, the organization has constructed Gordon Hoodak Stadium at Lauer's Park, a $900,000 youth ballpark that sits on the grounds of Lauer's Park Elementary, in 2006 and added $90,000 in renovations to Baer Park in 2013.

If you had tickets to Reading's King of Baseballtown Winter Banquet that was cancelled by (what else?) snow last month, you're invited to the Meet the Fightins Banquet on Monday, March 31, at the Reading Crowne Plaza.

Ticket-holders from the original King of Baseballtown banquet will be admitted with their original ticket. Additional tickets cost $65 for adults and $25 for kids and are available on-line at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-2255 (BALL), or by visiting the FirstEnergy Stadium ticket office during business hours.

The 2014 King of Baseballtown, Charlie Flannery, will also be crowned at the event. The long-time coach of the Gregg Post American League team and banquet chairman of the Reading Hot Stovers will be be the 12th king crowned by Baseballtown Charities.

Ticketholders from the postponed January event will be admitted with their original ticket.

The banquet will feature the introduction of the entire 2014 Fightins Opening Night roster, including manager Dusty Wathan and his coaching staff. Wathan, pitching coach David Lundquist, and hitting coach Rob Ducey will take part of a question-and-answer session during the dinner.

The night also includes an autograph session with the entire team and staff as well as a raffle and silent auction of various sports collectibles and memorabilia.

Doors to the banquet open at 5:30 p.m. and the banquiet begins an hour later.

Proceeds from the event benefit Baseballtown Charities, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded to keep baseball alive in Reading through programs that honor the city's rich baseball history and secure its future by giving more kids the opportunity to play and learn from the game's life lessons.

Since being founded in 2006, the organization has constructed Gordon Hoodak Stadium at Lauer's Park, a $900,000 youth ballpark that sits on the grounds of Lauer's Park Elementary, in 2006 and added $90,000 in renovations to Baer Park in 2013.

By the looks of it, there's a very good chance that snow will still be covering Coca-Cola Park when the IronPigs mark the beginning of single-game ticket sales on March 1 with a fan festival to celebrate National Pig Day.

In addition to the kickoff of ticket sales at 9 a.m., the open house features a pig roast with free pork sandwiches, free IronPigs yard signs, activities for families and children, and self-guided tours of the facility.

By the looks of it, there's a very good chance that snow will still be covering Coca-Cola Park when the IronPigs mark the beginning of single-game ticket sales on March 1 with a fan festival to celebrate National Pig Day.

In addition to the kickoff of ticket sales at 9 a.m., the open house features a pig roast with free pork sandwiches, free IronPigs yard signs, activities for families and children, and self-guided tours of the facility.